Mechanism for insuring correct starting point in fabric-measuring machines



Dt. 13, 1925. Lj

. J. L.. WHELER ET L MECHANISM FOR INSURIHG GORRECT STARTING POINT INFABRIC MEASURHG JSACHUZES Filed. April 4, 192@ 2 s'his-im 1 Lj .i L..WHEELER ET AL .L' FOR llUCv CRRECT STARTING POINT IN FABRIC MEASURNGMACHINES 2 Sheets-Smet 2 Patented Oct.` 13", 1925.-

-UNrrEo-- STATES PATENT oFFicE.

L. WHEELER. Nn EDWIN nnnelmtr, or s'r. Louis, HIssoUaI, AssIeNons ro;THE MEASUREGRAIH COMPANY, F s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A coRoRA'IIoN or DEL-AWARE.

Meenemen son INsUnINe connno'r s 'rAmIN'G .POINT 1N FABRIC-unanimitaMACHINES. v

'Application mea April 4, 1924. vsgml No. 704,126.

To aZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN L. WHEELER and vEDWIN T. NUGENT, citizens ofthe United States residing in the city o'f Saint Louis and State-ofMissouri, have invented new and uset'ul Improvements in Mechanism forInsuring Correct Starting. Point in Fab-4 ric-Measuring Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention 'relates to an improvement iny fabric measuring machinesdesigned to secure, on the one hand, accuracy of measurement, and o ntheother, to prevent the cle'rlr operating the same. from accil dentallyorcarelessly giving to the customer va gi' 'iter quantity of `materialthan the amount actually paid for.

The invention is applicable particularly,

the pass between the rollers. He .then

draws the fabric through with his left hand to bring" the-edge thereofsubstantially in line with a cutting' blade located atthe side of themachine and, in av further movement, vhis thumb engages a. plate,indicated ,as 22, in said prior patent, which releases thepresser rollerwhich thereuponis lowered by spring pressure into engagement with thefabric resting o n the measuring roller. thus placing the machine inoperative condition for measuring, and as the fabric is pulled betweenthe rollers, the measuring roller is operated to actuate the indicatingand cost computing mechanisms.

With a careful operator the measurement may be accurately made and noloss tothe shop-keeper results. A careless, or indifferent operator,however, will frequently take two or three inches of goods between thefingers of the right hand in adjusting -the fabric in the machine,instead of graspin-g it at the edge, and whenthe actuating plate is engaed by the thumb t0 lower the presser ro ler, as described, this .excessamount of material will project beyond the side olir the machine andwill not ligure inthe measuring operation, with `the result that it isdonatedI to the purchaser and, of course, represents a loss to theshop-keeper.

'gIn the .sale .of materials, of moderate y values, thisv loss would notbe very considerabl'e but in the case of fabrics selling at anywherefrom $5.00 to. $10.00 a yard, or more, and with a'. large number ofsales, the resultant lossl to the shop-keeper is very considerable.

The invention herein disclosed prevents such action bythe clerkiny theordinary measuring operatiofby 'rendering it impossible tolower/thepresse'r roller,'-a necessary pre-requisite to the measuringope-ration,-1-unti'lthe edge of the goods has been properly positionedrelative to the cutter or marker located at the side of the'machine, toinsure that when thefabric is drawn through the machine, in a measuringoperation', and slit by thecutter at the termination of the i measuredortion, .the amount of goods delivered to t e customer will correspondexactly with. the' amount indicated bythe measurementindicators of themachine and paid for by the purchaser. The broad idea of the inventionconsists in the. application of certain mechanism associated with thepresser roller and t mechanism. for operating the same, which* enablesthe material itself, .inserted in the machine, to act as an obstructionto thelowering of the presser roller, and thereby prevent the machinefrom being placed in operative condition for measuring, vuntil the' edgeof the goods has been correctly positioned for correct measurement.

clearly understood from the detailed description Ato follow, relate tothe construc-V tion, combination and operation of p'arts whereby thebroad object of the invention is attained.

"The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whichqFigure 1 is a plan View of the measuring machine to which our inventionrelates, de-

()ther obljects of the invention, which will be more presser roller; and

signed to show the manner of positioning the edge of the fabric to bemeasured in the machine, and the manner by which an actuating plate isoperated by the thumb of `parts being shown in the position they occupyafter the ered;

Figure 4 is a detached view in side elevation showing the manner inwhich the cutter or marker of Figure 3 cooperates with our mechanism toraise or reset the presser rollery has been .low-

Figure 5 is a view in brokensideelevatlon with the cutter removed,showing the parts in the position they occupy in Figure 4 and just priorto their actua-tion to release the presser roller. Referring 110W to thedra'., ugs, the nul moral 1 indicates the casing ot' the fabricmeasuring machine enclosing fabric measuring and cost computlngmechanism and means for operating the same.' The indi! eating mechanismcomprises, generally, a

numbered dial 2, pointers 3 (one being hidden) movable over said dialand charts 4t containing computations (not shown, the charts being atthe Zero position) movable 5 past price scales 5. The hands 3 and charts4 are operated by mechanism (not shown) actuated from a measuring roller6, Figures 2 and 3, with whch-co-operates a presser 4roller 7, the facesoit these rollers being dcsigned to engage centrally of an opening 8provided in one end of the machine for the entrance of the fabric. Thepresser roller 7 is rotatably mounted in a frame 9 which is pivotallymounted at` its ends at points corresponding to the numeral 10 ot'Figure 2 in the frame oi the machine, and said frame is provided with anoperating arm or lever 11 to which is secured one cud of a coil springl2. the other end ot which is sccured to the frame. "lihissiuingnormally tends to turn thepresser roller 7 downward intoengagement with the measuring roller (5. i

- The construction Sq) far described is well known and we will nowproceed to 'describe the mechanism ofV our invention bv which thepresser roller frame is actuated to be raised and lowered. The lever 11`projects througha rectangularopening 13 in one of the side 'framemembers of. the machine, indicated at 141, and positioned to co-operatewithsaid lever is one arm 15 of a toggle lever which is provided at itslower end with a shoulder 16 adapted to engage the upper sidero'f thelever 11. The arm 15 is pivotallyv connected at 17 to the lower end of ashort arm 1 8 constituting the second member of the toggle lever, theupper end of said arm being pivotally mounted at 19 on the Iframe plate111. Then the toggle lever is straightened, the arm 15 pressing down onthe end of the lever 11 will operate to -rock the frame 9 on its pivots10 and raise the presser roller 7, such position of the parts beingshown in Figure 2. When the toggle lever is broken, or is in theposition shown in Fi ure 3, the s rin(r 12 u1l' g P s P ing up on thelever 11 operates to rock the iframe 9 and throw the presser roller 7downward into engagement with the measuring roller, or the fabric inposition thereon, or l to .the lposition shown by dotted lines in Figure2. The manner of operating the toggle lever will now be described.

Positioned in the rectangular opening 13,

and accessible through a corresponding opening in the outer casing 1,(not show-11l but indicated by the position of the thumb in Figure 1) isan actuating plate 20 which has upwardly extending arms 21 ivotallymounted at 22, Figure 2, 1n the rame of the machine. Projectingoutwardly fromA thenppcr end of one of these armsls a lever arm 23,Figures 2 and 3, which enf vided with a stud 29 which lis adapted to'ino' opposite end of the throw lever`27 is pro-, A

work in a vertical-.ly disposed slot 30 pro-Y f vided in a locking bar31. In order to provide for movement' of the inner end of the in Figure5, directed toward the upper end of slot 30 in locking bar 31, weprovide a coil spring 32, one end of which is secured ll 0 1 to the stud29 on said throw lever, and the other end with stud 33 provided on theupper end of the locking bar. or". this construction will presentlyappear.

. The locking bar 31 is designed for verably mounted on the traine plate14 through v tical movement and to this end it is slidthe 'medium of avertically disposed slot 34 provided intermediate its ends with a setscrew 35, the head of which hears against the face of the locking barand the stem of in the frame plate 14. A coil spr'ingeG is connected atits lowercnd, as indicated at that of permitting the machine to placedin operative condition for'measuring;-by` breaking the toggle levers 15,18, and ,the

other, that of preventing such action should The purposev los .throwlever 27, or that at theright as shown l i 12d which passes through saidslot and engages Al U ' l? engages thev is the position i by breakingthe the cloth not be in the proper position for n'ieasuring. To lbreafkthe toggle lever we provide the following mechanism shown particularlyin Figures 3, a and 5:

The numeral 3%) indicates a dog which is pivotally mounted at its lowerend, as indicated at ai), near-the lower end' of the frame plate 11i..At its upper end the dog 39 is provided with a set screw Lil which maybesecured in any adjusted position in the end of the dog by a lockiiut42', The'end 43 of the set screw is normally in engagement with a stud44 projecting Jfrom theside of the toggle levers 15, 18 at the knucklethereof, the stein 'of saidstiid forming the pivotal.

connection between the two members of ,the toggle levers. The outer sideol' saidiidog or that to the rightin 'Figure 3, is provided with a camsurface 45. rEhe locking bar' 31 is provided on its side facing the dog39 with'a projection 46 having a cam edge 47 adapted to engage with thecam edge 45 of the dog 39. The o eration of the parts as thus atardescribed is as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figures a' and 5, andit being desired. to measure a length offabric, 4the latter is insertedin the opening 8 and passed between the rollers 6 4and 7. The presserroller is, of course, in the raised. posit-ion as shown by Figure 2. Theoperator pulls the cloth inward, or towai'd'the machine, until the edgeis in the osition desired and with his thumb puslies inward the thumbplatevor actuator 20. In'this movenient the lever 23 pulls the link 25downward, which causes the outeil end of the throw lever 27 to movedownward. The outer end of this throw lever being connected vby thespring 32 with the lock plate 31, the

latter is moved downward until its cam edge shown in Figure 5, whereupona slightfiirthcr movement ofthe locking plate forces the dog inward andthe end 43 ot the set screw carried by said dog pushes the stud 44 ofthe toggle lever inward, therejoint of said lever and permitting thespring 12 (Figure 2.) to throw the presser' roller downwardintoengagenient with the fabric. The cloth is then pulled between therollers and as theincasuring roller G is rotated, the indicatorsA 3 andchai-ts 4 are moved to show the length measured and the cost of themeasured length of material.

The machine illustrated is provided with means tor slitting the edge'ot'`the fabric at the termination oi the measured portion. To this end aknife 48 controlled by a spring 1.9 and provided at its outer end with athiii'nb plate 50, is pivotally mounted in the machine at 5l in mannerto comperato, when depressed', by pushing .on the thumb plate 50, with ablade 52 securedon cam edge 45 of dog 39, which Y the machine. In theoperation ot' this knife, iii the 4type ,of machine referred to, thepresser roller isadapted to be raised out of contact with the -measuringroller. This operation also occurs in connection with the mechanismwe'have described and with this in View, the knife 48, Figure il, islprovided with a contact arm 53 which, when the knife is pusheddownward, isl adapted to engage the stud 44 of vrestore vsaid togglelevers to the straight position, as shown in Figure 4. l

We will now describe the manner of preventing the operation of measuringwhen the end oi the fabric has not been positioned correctly 'foraccurate measurement. Such means comprises a rectanglilar aperture 54,Figures 1, 2 and operate with the lower 'end poi'tion'of the locking bar31. lThis aperture is located the toggle levers 15, 18, and

5, 'which -is'fadapted to conear the edge of the casing 1 in that partthereof forming the bottom of the slot 8,

and near the edge of said slot in line with' the knife 48. The yapertureV54: thus constii tutes ,a fixed starting point for the measuringoperation. It will now be seen thatas the fabric is movedinward to bringits end to the measuring position, in the event the end of the vfabricshould not be drawn into.

the machine a siill'icient distance to uncover.

of the locking' to be lowered. It is, therefore, necessary' for 'theoperator to arrange the fabric inthe machine so as` to uncover the,aperture 54. This insures that the end of the-fabric will be ,locatedat the proper posi-tion to' in.-

sure that the ai'iioiint of vfabric v,drawn the machine will vcorrespondwith through the amount indicated on the measuring dial. Referring toFigure 3, the numeral 55k indicates a stud whichliinits the upwardmovement of tlie-iiiember'18` of the toggle lever and the numeral 56indicates a headed stud which guides thelower end .of the member l5 o'ithe toggle lever and which also 'acts as a stop for limiting the inwardmovement oi the dog' 39..- l 'Y In the accompanying drawing, we haveshown.v and in the above specification described.y the preferred', andthe best known, embodiment of our invention. It will be understood,however, that our invention is not .,limited in application to theparticular form permit the presser roller'.

\ v or machine described, or to the exact details of construction shown'and described. For example, it4 will be obvious that the apen ture 54could be ofother f ative condition for measuring shape than rectangular,and that the locking bar 31 could be correspondingly shaped. It willalso be obvious that the invention could be applied to machines in whichthe presser roller is lowered in moving it away from the measuringroller, as well as to the tvpeA of machine shown where the presserroller is raised.

e claim: 1. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, havingmeans for from a fixed starting pointvon the mfclii/ne, and means forplacing the macliine in operative or inoperative condition formeasuring, means in line with said xed starting point and movable inplacing the machine in operand operating 1 to prevent the machine frombeing placed in 5575*' aperture in 'the part forming the bottom of suchcondition when the endA of the fabric to be measured projects beyondsaid latter means: in the direction of the measuring movement of thefabric.

In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, in con'ibinationwith the presser roller, meansl for holding the.v same away .Trom'themeasuring roller, and means under the `control of the operator forreleasing the-Holding means, mechanism associated With said releasingmeans and 'adapted to enOage the fabric, inserted in the machine to eprojects beyond a point on the machine fixing the starting point for themeasurement of the fabric and thereby prevent operation of saidreleasing means.

3. In a fabric measuring machine of the clas's described, incombination. with the presser roller, means for holding the same awayfrom themeasuring roller, and means under the control of theop'eratorfor releasing 'the holding means, amovable member associated with saidreleasing means and movable thereby across the path of movement ,of thefabric to be measured at a point on the machine fixing thestarting'point for the measurement of the fabric, and adapted to` engagethe fabric when the end of the fabric projects .beyond said point andpre vent operation of said releasing means.

4. A fabric measuring machine of the class-described, having a:measuring roller and a presser roller and a casing enclosing thesameaffording an opening to the pass ltween thel rollers, said casing havingan said opening'lixing the start-ing point for the measurement of thematerial, an element movable to place the machine in condition formeasurement, anda" member cooperating with said element and movablethereby to cause apart of saidmember to enter'said' aperture, saidmember being adapted to en gagethefmatcrial, inserted in the machine tobe measured, when the end thereof projeetsover said aperture and therebyprevent measured, when the end of the :fabricv vent operation of intereseffective operation of sind starting element.

5. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, in combinationwith the presser roller,4 means for holding the same away from themeasuring roller, and means under the control of the operator for releasing the holding means, mechanism associated with said releasing meansand adapted to engage the fabric, inserted in the'machine to b emeasured, when the end of the fabric proJects in the direction of themeasuring movement of the fabric beyond a point on the machine fixingthe starting point for the measurement of the fabric and thereby prevent operation of said releasing means.

G. In a fabric'measuring machine of the class' described, in combinationwith the presser roller, means for .holding the same away from themeasuring roller, and means under the control of the operator for releasing the holding means, a vertically movable member associated with saidreleasingmeans and movable thereby across the path of movement of thefabric to be measured, and adapted to engage the fabric when the end ofthe fabric projects beyond a point on the machine fixing the startingpoint for the measurement of the fabric and thereby prevent operation ofsaid releasing means.

7. A fabricmeasuring machine ofthe class described` having a measuringroller and a presser roller and a casing enclosing the same affording anopening to the pass between the rollers, said casing having an aperturein the part forming 'the bottom of said opening fixing the startingpoint for the measurement ofthe fabric, means for holding the presserroller in an elevated position, means under the control of the operatorfor releasing the holding means, and a vertically movable memberassociated with said releasing means and movable thereby to cause itslower end to enter said aperture, said member being adapted to engagethe fabric, inserted in the machine to be measured, when the end of thefabric ,projects over said aperture and thereby presaid releasing means.

8. In a fabric measuring machine `of the class described, in combinationwith a pivotally mounted frame having a presser roller rotatably mountedtherein, a` spring "tend-v ing normally 'to move said framers place saidroller in operativeposition, nimm on said frame, a toggle leverengaging` saldar-m and adapted, when straightened, to depress theI sameand hold the llO presser roller frame and roller in inoperativeposition, means A under the control of the ing said toggle lever topermit said frame to be actuated by its spring tomove the presser"roller, andvmeans adapted to engage the fabric, inserted in the machineto Ye measured, when the endof the fabric projects beyond a 'point onthefmach-ine operator for breakment of the fabric and therebypreventopfixing the stai-ting point for the measureally mounted tramehaving a presser rolle-1' rotatably mounted therein, a spring tendingnormally tolower said frame, an arm on" -said frame, a 'toggle leverengaging said arm and adapted, when straightened, to

u depress the same and hold the presser roller frame elevated, meansunder' the control of the Aoperator for breaking said toggle lever topermit said frame to be actuated by its spring to lower the presserroller, and means adapted tvo engage the fabric, inserted in the machineto be measured, when the .end ot' the fabric projectsbeyond a point onthe machine fixing the starting point for the measurement ot the fabricand' thereby prevent operation of said toggle breaking means. y

10. In a'fabric measuring machine of the class. described, incombination with a pivot- Aally mounted `frame having a presser rollerrotatably mounted therein, 'a spring tending normally to lower saidframe, an varm on' said fra-me, a toggle lever having one memberengaging said arm and operating, when the togglel lever. isstraightened, to depress the arm and raise said frame andy presserroller, a vertically movable member, means under the control of theoperator'for lowering the same to cause its lowerv end to pass across`the path of movement of the fabric to be measured, means on said memberfor breaking the toggle lever when said member ,is lowered and permitysaid spring to lower the presser roller, the lower' end of Isaid memberbeing adapted to engage the fabric,

inserted inthe machine to be measure-d,

when the end et the fabric projects beyond the ,lower end of said memberand thereby prevent suticient movement of said member to eiect breakingof the toggle lever.

11.b In a fab-ric measuring machine of the class-'(lescribefl, incombination with a pivotally mounted frame having a presser roller`rotatably mounted therein, an .arm on said trame, a toggle lever havingla -niemb'er'i'mraging said arm and operatngawhen the toggle lever isstraightened, to depress the arm and raise the presser roller frame, a

lspring operating to lower the presser, roller frame when the togglelever is broken, a

pivotally mounted dog having an end nor'- lnally engaging the knuckle ofsaid `toggle lever, a vertically.movable-bar having a member forcngaglng said dog when the bar is lowered to effect breaking ot saidtogglelever, means under the control ot the op#` erator for lowering/said bar to break the toggle lever and thereby cause the lower end ofsaid bar to pass across the pat-h' ot movement ofthe fabric to bemeasured, the lower end ci said bar being adapted to engage' the fabric,inserted in the machine 'to be measured, when the end of vthe-fabric pro4 jects beyond the lower end of the bar and thereby prevent the memberon said bar fromi levern actuating said dog to breakgsaid toggle 12. Ina fabric measuring machine of the class described, in combination withvthe presser roller, means for holding the same away from'tlie measuringroller, and means 13.'ln a fabric measuring machine ofthe v classdescribed, in combination with the 'presser roller, means for holdingthe saine .away from the measuring roller, and means und-er the controlofthe operator for releasing the holding means, a. vertically movablebara spring normally holding the same in a raised position, alost-motion connection be tween said bar and said releasing means, thelower end of the bar being movable in the operation of the releasingmeans across the path of the fabric to be measured, and being' adaptedto engage the 'fabric when the end thereof projects beyond the lower end`of said bar and thereby prevent operation of said releasing means.l

14. In a fabric measuring machine oftheclass described, in combinationwith a pivotally mounted frame-having a presser roller rotatably mountedtherein, an arm on said frame` a toggle lever havlng one memberI`engaging said arm and operating-when the toggle leveris straightened, todepress 'said .arm and raise said frame, a spring operating to lowersaid frame when the toggle lever'is broken, an actuating member mov--able by the operator, a pivotally mounted throw-lever adapted to haveits outer Vend lowered when said actuator is operated, a verticallymovable bal" having a yielding connection wit-h said-throwLlever, aspring p the end thereof projects beyond the lower end ot said bar andthereby prevent lower-- ing ot said bar a sufficient distance to movesaiddog.

' Ytoggle'llever is straightened,

4 154. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, incombination with a pivotally mounted frame having a presser rollerrotatably mounted Athereim'an arm on said, frame, a toggle lever havinga member engaging said arm and operating, When the arm and raise saidframe,

toggle lever, including a vertically movable bar, the lower end whereofis movable, in the operation of breaking the toggle, across the todepress the means under the' control of the operator for breaking saidpath of movement of the fabric Ato be measured, and being adaptedtoengage the fabric when the end thereof projects beyond the lower endof the bar and prevent breale ing of the toggle to permit the presserroller to be lowered, and manually operable means for straightening said'toggleleven In testimony whereof, We have hereunto 20v setl our hands.

JOHN LQ WHEELER. EDWIN T. Nue-ENT,

